US1731839A - Check-controlled apparatus for measurement and payment of intangible values - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 15, 1.929. R. w. BASSON x 1,731,839

CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS FOR MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT OF INTNGIBLE VALUES Filed Aug. :50, 1928 1 4 Sheets-Sheet H 17mm?? .f 1?@ W/ahm,

Oct. l5, 1929.

R. w. BASSON 1,731,839

CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS FOR MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT OF INTANGIBLE VALUES Filed Aug. 50, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 15, 1929. R, w. BABsoN 1,731,839

CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS FOR MEASUREMENT I AND PAYMENT OF' INTANGIBLE VALUES Filed Aug. 30, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. W. BABSON CHECK GONTROLLED APPARATUS FOR MEASUREMENT Oct. 15, 1929.

AND PAYMENT OF INTANGIBLE VALUES Filed Aug. 50, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 manica 15.1929- UNITED Isif'l'a'ras ,PATENT OFI-lcs noem w. isAJasoN,v or wELLEsLEY, nssAcnUsET'rs -cI-Inox-ooNTnoLImn ArrAzaATUs ron MEASUREMENT AND rAmEN'r or INTANGIBLE v vALUEs .Application ned August so, 192s. serial no. 303,020.

The present invention relates to apparatus for measuring the use or occupancy of space, or other intangible values or products, on a time basis, andl insuring payment for such use or occupancy at a predetermined rate. One a of the specific objects to which the'invention is applicable is in connection with parked vautomobiles for measuring the timeof occupancy by theautomobile of the parking space and lo causing payment forV such occupancy automatically, and with no other personal atten- .;-t'ion than that of the owner of the automobile in placing one or more coins, or checks or tokens representing monetary value, in a designated depository. In connection with this articular use, it has been a part of my ob- ]ect to provide means by which the spaces alon the sides of city streets, in which automobi e owners frequently park their cars, may

be made to return a revenue to the municipality when so used, as well as to procure pay-n ment for the use of private or other special parking spaces.' It is well known that the parking privileges on cityY streets are much 25 abused by some individuals, who frequently leave their cars parked much beyond the legal limit; and it is practically impossible to eliminate this abuse by the means and methods hitherto available. .In this connection my invention both tends to diminish the amount of parking beyond the prescribed time limits,

thus permitting use of the same spaces by a.

greater number of persons, and produces a revenue to the municipality for use beyond the .35. prescribed limit.

Numerous other purposes may likewise be served by the application of the principles of my invention in'substantially the form herein illustrated, or in slightly modified forms,

4o wherefore it is to be understood that I claim Such an embodiment, designed particularly or all the purposes tol for use in'connection with parked automobiles, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, with a part ofthe cover broken away to show interior parts, of such apparatus; e

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; f f

Fig. 3 is a detail cross section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l; Y f

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary detail views of the means for resetting the time indicator Aof the apparatus, showing such means in re spectively different positions; v

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4; y

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken online 7-7 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of-a plugor connector designed to be used in connection with the apparatus; l

Fig. 9 is in part a section onlinef 9 -9 of Fig. 1, and in part a diagram of electrical connections, showing the plug operatively inserted in the apparatus;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on line 1 0-40 of Fig. 9; l Y

Figs. 11 and 12 are views taken in part on line 11-11 of Fig. l showing a part ofv-the resetting means in different positionsyl,l

Fig. 13 is a cross section taken on line 13;-13 of Fig. 12.

Like reference characters designate the` i,

same parts wherever they occur in all the.

figures.

The Aworking parts of the apparatus here illustrated are enclosed between base or back plate l and a case or cover having a front wall 2, and enveloping Iside walls `3, which is mounted on the base by hinges Land carries a slotted lug 5 adapted to be secured in closed formed SQ that the plug can be inserted' inl only one position. On the outside of the' case are hollow bosses 12 and 13, the bores of which form continuations of the openings 7 and 8, serving a`s guides and steadying means for the prongs of the plug.

For the specific purpose before mentioned, it isintended that the plug be connected to a iiexible electric cable, the conductors of which are separately connected electrically to the prongs 9 and 10 and to the poles of the storage battery of the automobile; and that, when the plug is inserted, a circuit Will be completed from the battery to set inoperation the indicating mechanism of the device. Such indicating mechanism consists of a dial 14 bearing a series of suitable characters, whichmay represent hours and minutes, and are lvisible successively through an opening or Window in the front wall of the casing, which window is indicated by dotted lines at 15 in Fig.. 2. rlfhe dial is driven .through a gear train consisting of a gear 16, pinion-17, gear 18, and pinion 19, from a synchronous electric motor or clock 20, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A diagram of suitable electric connections between the plug and motor is shown in Fig. 9, as consisting of spring contact members 21 and 22v arranged to be engaged by the prongs 9 and 10, respectively, and conductors 23 and 24 leading therefrom to the motor. An electric lamp or' equivalent telltale 25 is preferably interposed in this circuit. .The contact .springs and socket of the lamp are shown as mounted on and suitably insulated from a block 260 which is secured on the inside of one of the side walls ofthe casing.

The dial 14 is mounted and suitably secured on the outer end of a drum or disk which has two stop surfaces 26 and 27, shown in Fig. 3, which are coaxial, and cylindrical except for a recessed or interrupted sector 28, shown by dotted lines inFigs. 1 and 4. Said disk and a ratchet wheel 29 are secured on a shaft 30, on which the gear 16 is rotatably-mounted, and are driven from said gear through a friction clutch 31, the hub of said gear being pressed against the face of the clutch by a spring 32.` Shaft 30, as also' the pivots of the driving gear train, previouslv described, are mounted in a movement frame consisting of plates 33 and 34, and a suitable number of connecting and spacing posts 35; which frame is secured in any desired manner in the casing.

Inoits embodiment as a parking meter for public streets on which a limited period of free parking is permitted, the apparatus is designed to hold the plug securely against accidental withdrawal, ybut so that it may be withdrawn without payment, at any time during the free parking period, but will beV positively locked upon expiration of the limit and until coins or the like to the required value have been inserted. For thus holding and securing the plug, I provide a latch, or releasable lock, cooperating with the above named stop drum or disk, which serves as a positive obstructor or lock, as follows. A latch lever 36, pivoted on a stud 37 is formed With an'edge flange 38 (Fig. 1) which crosses a part of the space occupied by the prongs 9 and 10 and is normally urged by a spring 39 into notches 40 (Fig. 8) in one side `of the prongs. rEhe latter are beveled at their ends to displace the lever when inserted, whereby the plug is automatically latched releasably. A lug or finger 41, rigid with the lever 36, projects toward the surface 26 of the stop disk, which blocks it at all times except when cess is so positioned and of such length that.

it permits releasing movement of the latch when the dial is in zero or starting position and for a length of time equal to the free parking time after the clock or motor has been started. For moving the latch to release the plug, a lever 42 is pivoted to the front wall 43 of the case carrying a stem 44, which crosses the end extension 45 of the latch and protrudes through a slot 46 in said wall and on which is'a handle knob 47.

It is necessary, when thus releasing the plug, to return the dial and stop disk to the normal zero or starting position, ready for thenext use. To do this, the ratchet wheel 29 comes into play, actuated by a pawl 48 carried by a slide bar 49 which is supported slidingly byguides 50 and 51 secured to the movement plate 34. One end of the slide bar 49 extends near to the latch lever 36 and is arranged to be engaged and displaced by the latter when moved by the releasing handle 47 The movement so givento the bar shifts the pawl past the nearest tooth of the ratchet and, on -the return of the bar effected by a spring 52, the pawl engages said ratchet tooth and returns the disk and dial to starting position.

The pawl 48 is pivoted loosely to the bar 49 and is yieldingly held, by gravity or otherwise, in the upright position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. 4lt is adapted to swing freely to either side ofthis posit-ion except when prevented by the placement of a stop 53 in the way of an abutment or finger 54 on the pawl.

Stop 53 is part of an arm pivoted at 55 to slide 49 and actuated by a bell crank lever 56 Which is pivoted to the adjacent 'frame plate', and one arm of which underlies the lstop lever while the other arm engages one end of a transverse rock lever. In the form shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the rock lever above referred to consists of a block 57 connected by a pivot 58 to the under or shoulder` 27 tof the stop disk. This shoulder holds the rocker, bell crank, and stop,

y in the position shown in Figs 1, 4 and 5, at all times except when the recess 28 passes v' beside Athe roll 60 and the latter is so located' that the recess begins to pass it immediately after the time mechanism is started, and continues beside;y it throughout the distance corresponding to the time vperiod of free parking. Hence when the time mechanism starts, ,the pawl 48 offers no obstacle to its motion. and the tooth ofvv the ratchet 29 which is then beside the pawl-fis able to tilt it in the manner illustrated in Fig5. v But within va short time after starting of thetime mechanism, the recess, f28 arrives beside the roll and the stop 53 is allowed to descend. The stop then rests on the displaced 'abutment 54,`ready,to drop be# side the abutment when the pawl is free to vresume its normal upright position.4 This occurs when the slide 49 is displaced by the release handle 48 in the manner previously described: the pawl then being carried to the rlght of the ratchet tooth which previously engaged it andresuming its normal positron. The stop 53, then dropping into place infront of the abutment 54, holds the pawl rigid and causes it t turn the ratchet back to starting position when the slide 49 is returned. i

After the free the further end of. the recess 28 passes the stop finger41 and the roll 60, whereupon 35 the latch lever 36 yis obstructed by the stop.-

surface or shoulder 26, and the pawl stop 53 1s held out of the way of the pawl through the coaction of the surface or shoulder 27 l with roll 60. Thereafter the plug cannot be'twithdrawn until a coin controlled mechanism, Whlch I will now describe, has been actuated a suflicient number of times. This --com controlled lmechanism is manually operated to return the dial to starting position by steps, each'equal to the distance that the dial has been turned during one hour or other prescribed time period for which unit payment by a coin of the prescribed value Y 1s required. QO course the unit time periods and rate of payment are arbitrary and may bevariously fixed in various'localities For convenience of this explanation, however, I will assume that the rate of v payment is twenty-five cents per hour and that therefore the resetting steps are each equal to one hour distance on the dial and may be given by the deposit of a quarter dollar inthe i coin slot.

The last mentioned resetting mechanism comprises an `arm 61 mounted to turnffreely about the shaft 30 and' carrying a pawl 62 cooperating with the ratchet 29. To the arm is connected a flexible cord'63 by which force is applied forV raising itso as to turn 66 the ratchet; and a spring 64 is likewise con-l parking time has elapsed,

pleted, whereby the ratchet is left unobstructed and free to be time mechanism.

The cord 63 passes from the arm 61 upward over a guide pulley 68, thence downward and under a secondv guide pulley 69 propelled by the both guide pulleys being mounted on statlonary pivot studs) and thence upward to a connection at 7 Orwith a slide 71 which is movable vertically in guides 72 and 73 (Fig. 7) secured to a. channel bar 74 which in turn is secured to a part of the time movement frame. T helower end of slide 71 carries a lug or hook 75 to which one end of a spring 7G is connected, the other end, of the spring being anchored to a stationary stud 77. The tendency vand etl'ect of the spring is `to hold the slide in t-he raised position shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 11, and to return it to that position after having been displaced by superior force. To the slide 71 is fastened a plate 78, the upper edge of which constitutes ashoulder or abutment to cooperate with a locking dog, presently described, in holding the slide temporarily in its lowered or displaced position. Y

A coin chute 7 9. is-mounted within the cas-v ing beside the bar- 74 and arranged with its entrance orifice in register with a slot 80 in the front wall of the casing. The plate 7 8 extends across the forward side or edge of the* coin chute. `Pivoted to a plate 81, which is fastened to the forward edge of the coin chute are a trip 82, a locking dog 83, and a stop arm 84, all of which project into the chute and to varying distances toward the rear edge thereof.

v The locking dog 83 cooperates with the plate78. Ithas a forwardly projecting arm 85 which bears against the rear side of plate 78 when the latter is raised (Fig. 11), and is caused by a spring 86 to lie across theupper edge of this plate when the latter is lowered (Fig. l2 The dog is secured in the latter posit-ion y a latch 87 (Fig. 13) Which/is pivoted on the side of the coin chute and extends through a `slot therein so as to engage the in wardly projecting arm of the dog. An arm 88 isV anchored atv one end to the side -of the chute, and its'other end enters a notch 89 in the latch 87 whereby it is capable' of-transmitting motion and pressure 1n either direction to the latch. `Said arm 88 has an offset payment.

i offset and its point of anchorage, Vor is there. flexible or 'articulated and spring actuated, in such fashion that it normally occupies the position shown by full lines in Fig. 13, but may be displaced to the dotted line position shown in said figure by depression of the trip 82.

A 'cover plate 93 is arranged on the inside of the casing back of the xslot 80 and is movable up and down to cover and uncover the slot by means of a stud 94 projecting through f a second slot 95 and carrying a handle 96. The stud 94 overlaps a bracket 97 secured to the slide 71.

- The coin cannot be inserted in slot 80 until the cover plate 93 has been lowered. This is accomplished by depressing the handle 96, which simultaneously lowers the slide ,71, putting spring 76 under tension, and slackening the cord 63. The pawl carrying arm 61 is thereby allowed to drop into the position shown in Fig. 5, where its pawl 62 is brought past one of the .teeth of the ratchet.4

When the cover plate and slide have 4vbeen lowered enough to openthe coin slot fully, the slide is locked by the dog 83 springingl into the position where its inner arm is caught by v the latch 87. Its outer arm is extended across the top edge of plate 76. A coin of the proper size and weight being then inserted, falls upon the trip 82, depressing it and thereby causing the latch 87 to be moved clear of the locking dog 83. The latter is then displaced by the conjoint action of the coin and the spring 76, releasing the slide 71. Spring 76 then raises the slide, which pulls on the cord 63 and raises the pawl carrying arm 61, turni ing the ratchet 29 and dial 14 through one step. This yprocedure is repeated, with insertion of an additional coin each t1me, as many times as the number of hours durlng which the car has remained parked beyond thelimit of free parking time. The number of coins and actuations necessary is made known by the figures 'on the dial appearing through the sightopening. Finally the plug `is released, and the dial brought to zero position by movement of the handle 47 in the manner previously described.

The trip 82 serves also as a means to prevent release of the locking dog by a coin smaller than that called for by the scale of short of the rear edge of the coin chute by 'a distance suiiicient to let all of the smaller "'of'the'proper size. The stop arm 84 is provided to arrest coins which have passed the For that purpose it terminates trip arm and locking dog inoperatively.' It also serves to retain the. operatlvecoin in position to prevent return of the locking dog into latched position in case the operator continues to hold down the handle 96 after depositing the coin. The stop arm therefore is provided with an inclined-outer arm 98 which projects beneath the plate 78 when the latte! is raised, thereby allowing the stop armto tilt downwardly, but is displaced when the late is lowered and then holds the stop arm orizontal. A window 99 is provided `in the side of the chute through which the coin resting on the stop arm maybe seen.

The foregoing description explains all of the mechanism suiiicient `for any situation `where a limited period of free parking is permitted. But to meet the conditions where vide the following additional devices.

pressed upon by a spring 102 so that its upper end 103 obstructs the openings 7.and 8. It is locked in this position by a latch 104 engaging a lug 105 on the arm (Figs. 1 and 2). The latch 104 is `pivoted topa com chute 106 Lever` 100 has .a linger or arm 108 beneath the latch arm 107 adapted to pass crosswise of the chute through a slot 109 cut in the walls thereof. Thisl finger lies across the chute whenthe arm 100 is in the normal position. A y The entrance end of coin chute 106 registers with a slot 110 in ithe front wall of the casing. A coin passedlinto the chute drops until arrested by the nger 108, meanwhile displacing latch 104 and holding it in the vposition shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. A4

push stem 111 passes through the side of the casing and has a head on its inner end which bears on the arm 100. When the latch 104 is thus released, the operator, by pushing on the 4stem 111, may displace lever 100 and thus uncover the openings 7 and 8.

Until the lever 100 is thus displaced, movement of the handle 47 is prevented by a locking projection 112 on the lever .100 which lies ,as An arm 100 is pivoted to a stud 101 and and has an arm 107` extending into the chute.

beneath a shoulder 113 `from the arm 42, and

blocks it, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Both eoinchutes continue toward the bottom of the casing land discharge into a box 114.

The obstructing lever 100 and the parts associated therewith and last described are optional elements of the apparatus, which may be omitted from any apparatus lmade according to this invention to serve the use first described. v

Various modiications may be made in the apparatus both when adapted to serve the purposes described and also enabling it to serve specically diierent but analogous purposes. For instance, instead of causing the time motor to be operated vbycurrent supplied rom the battery' of an automobile, it

menace :5. provided withA normally separated contacts whicliarebrought into engagement with one f antlieiyby .displacement of the arm 21 by the pron 9, the arm 22 being then arranged v clear oft e prong 10. Or the time mechanism m'may be driven by a spring motor which is 'set in motion land stoppedfby aftrip" which is operated byinsertion or remove f of the plug. Thclsame l l ,sur urposes as pre v ,iiietering of electrid current, etc. .ll"h`ej ,plug,jinfthe cific embodiment and combiiiaticin'herein` escribed, is a connector which. couples the time motor with an external -source-o `power; but

mre broadly it is essentially a circuitclosingvzg ao body which, by its insert-ion intaothe casing of the meter, v

t v closes .the circuit of jthenotor or time mechanism. More cd to be connected With an automobile or othermovablebody, a fixed meter havin a 4o recepacle for connector, a time mec a- Ynism in said meter adapted to be automatically. set in operation by insertion of the con;v hector, a releasabl lckfor securing -the connector in themeter, and means-o erated by releaseof the lock for returning the indicatvng1element of said time mechanism to starting fpesaion.

j 3. In .combination with a connector adapted to beconnectedwith an automobile or other movable body, a fixed meter havin `a receptacle for said connector, a time mec anism inlsaid meter adapted t'o be automatically set in operationlby insertion of the connector, a relea'sable lock for securing the colinector in the meter, means controlled by said time mechanism for preventing release of said lock, andv coin controlled means for causing displacement of said lock securing means. 4. A parking meter for automobiles having a .receptacle for receiving a connector attached to the automobile, a lock for holding. such connector in the receptacle, a time mech- )anism arranged tobe set in action by placeinent of the connector in the receptacle, a stop v.actuated by said time mechamsm forl presepa; A

-ment of said lock, and coin controlle means principlesma'y applied to separated terminals in electrical connecgenerically. Still( it is a controller body which, through;inter` mediateconnections or devices, 'caus'esfthe venting releasing lmovement of said lock, and coin controlled means for displacing said togandthereby permitting release of the ln an apparatus of the character de` o scribed, the combination with -a structure .having a connector receptacle, of a lock for securingsuch connector in said receptacle, a time mechanism, means operated by the'time mechanismgfor obstructing releasin movefor' lacing said obstructing means.

ecombination with a connector havtion respectively, with the poles of the storage battery of an automobile, of a meter hav-l ingsopenings for the reception of said termina an electric time mechanism in said meter `having an operating circuit including contact members arranged to be en ed by said terminals to complete a circuit t rough the automobile battery and the motor of said time mechanism, a lock for securing said tervminals in the meter, an obstruc'tpr driven by 'said'time mechanism for pre/venting release of `said lock, and coin cdntrolled means for permitting displacement of said obstructor a position which permits release of the oc 1 7 A parking meter-comprising a structure naving provisions -forinsertion of a" connec' tor attached to an automobile,l a coin controlled obstructor to revent insertion of said connector adapted tobe released upon insertion of a coin, a-lock y0r securing 'the inerted l connector, a time mechanism, and a coin oon'- trolled mechanism'l controlling the securing and releasing of said lock. i 1 8. In an apparatus -of the character de scribed, a time mechanism, a lock mechanism controlled by said time mechanism and havrelease of said lock when in one position,

mechanism for returning said obstructor from such position after it has been placed therein by the time mechanism, and coin controlled means for permittingv actuation of said last named mechanism, said last named mechanism being operable step by step and the coin controlled .means being constructed to' ,ermit its actuation through a single step withthe insertion of each coin. f

' 10. A 'meter having provision for insertion of an external-connector for coupling with an external body a time mechanismop- 130 eratedupon insertion of such connector, and a time indicator driven by said mechanism and arranged to be visible outside of the meter for indicating the elapsed time following insertion of the connector.

11. In an apparatus of the character described including a. meter, a time mechanism, locking means operable by said time mechanism, and a time indicator movable by and with said lockingmeans and being visible at the outsideof the meter. l:

12. A coin controlled meter havingI provisions tor reception ot' an inserted connector which is coupled Withian external body, a lock for securing said connector, time controlled means for securing said lock and coin controlled means for releasing said lock.

I al of the body.

13. A coin controlled meter asset forth in claim 12, including means to prevent insertion otsaid connector until after the deposit ot' a coin.

1li.A A meter as set forth in claim 12 comprising further an obstructor to prevent insertion of the connector, means whereby said obstructor may be placed in inoperative position, and a lock for preventing such placement ot the obstructor adapted to be disabled by insertion of a coin.

15. 1n a metering apparatus of the character described having a` lock, a releaser for said lock,a lock for preventing actuation of said releaser, and a coin operated trip for releasing the last named lock.

16. 1n a metering apparatus ot the character described having a lock, areleaser, a lock :tor preventingactuation of said releaser, and a coin operated trip for releasing the last named lock, said trip being constructed and arranged to permit inoperative passing of coins having less than a predetermined dimension.

17. A metering apparatus comprising an enclosed casing having an entrance for a controller body, a time mechanism in said casing, and means operable by said controller body directly upon insertion in said entrance for causing said time mechanism to be started.

18. A metering apparatus comprising an enclosed casing having an entrance for a controller body, a time mechanism in said casing, means by which said controller body upon insertion in said entrance causes said 4time mechanism to be started, a latch arranged to be displaced by said body upon insertion thereof and means for interlocking the latch with the body to prevent Withdraw- 19. fi metering apparatus comprising an enclosed casing having an entrance for aV controller body, a time mechanism in said casing, means by Which said controller body upon insertion in said entrance causes said time mechanism to be started, a-latch automatically operable upon insertion Vof said body to hold the body, andobstructing means actuated by said` time mechanism for preventing release of said latch.

20. A metering apparatus comprising an enclosed casing having an entrance for a controller body, a time mechanism in said casing, means by which said contrller body upon insertion in said entrance causes said time mechanism to be started, a latch automatically operable upon insertion of said body to prevent Withdrawal .of the body, obstructing means actuated by said time mechanism for preventing release ofl said latch, and coin controlled manually operated means for shifting said obstructing means into a non-obstructing relationship to the latch. i

\ 21. A coin controlled 4meter having provisions for reception of an inserted circuit closing body, a latch automatically operative upon insertion of said body for securing the tor operable by the electric motor for preventing' release of the latch, and coin controlled manually operable mechanism for shifting said obstructor into non-obstructing relationship with the said latch.

22. The combination With a iixed body, of a connector coupled to an external body adapted to be inserted into the fixed body, and a time mechanism for automatically locking the. connector to the fixed body after lapse of a predetermined time interval from insertion of the connector.

23. The combination With a ixed'body, of a connector coupled to an external body adapted to be inserted into the fixed body, a time mechanism for automatically locking the connector to the ixed body after lapse of a predetermined time interval rom its insertion,

and coin-controlled means for unlocking the nature.

ROGER W. BABSON.

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